Do-It-Yourself

Some people would say that the englishman's home is no longer his castle; that it has become his workshop. This is partly because the average Englishman is keen on working with his hands and partly because he feels, for one reason or another, that he must do for himself many household jobs for which, some years ago, he would have hired professional help. The main reason for this is a financial one: the high cost of labour has meant that builders* and decorators' costs have reached a level which makes them prohibitive for house-proud English people of modest means. So, if they wish to keep their houses looking bright and smart, they have to tackle some of the repairs and decorating themselves. As a result, there has grown up in the post-war years what is sometimes referred to as the 'Do-It-Yourself Movement'.

The 'Do-lt- Yourself Movement' began with home decorating but has since spread into a much wider field. Nowadays there seem to be very few things that cannot be made by the 'do-it-yourself method. A number of magazines and handbooks exist to show hopeful handymen of all ages just how easy it is to build anything from a coffee table to a fifteen foot (4.5 metres) sailing dinghy. All you need, it seems, is a hammer and a few nails. You follow the simple instructions step-by-step and, before you know where you are, the finished article stands before you, complete in every detail.

Unfortunately, alas, it is not always quite as simple as it sounds! Many a budding 'do-it-yourselfer' has found to his cost that one cannot learn a skilled craftsman's job overnight. How quickly one realises, when doing it oneself, that a job which takes the skilled man an hour or so to complete takes the amateur handyman five or six at least. And then there is the question of tools. The first thing the amateur learns is that he must have the right tools for the job. But tools cost money. There is also the wear and tear on the nerves. It is not surprising then that many people have come to the conclusion that the expense of paying professionals to do the work is, in the long run, more economical than 'doing it oneself.

Post-Reading

A Say if the following statements are true or false.

1. Many Englishmen are fond of working with their hands. 2. To hire professional help has become rather costly. 3. The 'Do-It-Yourself Movement' is concerned mostly with some of the repairs and decorating. 4. With the help of magazines and handbooks, giving simple instructions, it is easy to build anything. 5. To learn to do a skilled job properly one needs time and training. 6. All a handyman needs is just a hammer and a few nails. 7. Paying professionals is sometimes more economical than 'doing it oneself.

В Translate into Russian.

117

1) the high cost of labour; 2) the house-proud English people; 3) a 15 foot sailing dinghy; 4) the finished article stands before you; 5) ihe expense of paying professionals.

С Paraphrase the following word-combinations from the text. 1) the average Englishman; 2) people of modest mea ns; 3) houses looking bright and smart; 4) tojaclde some of the repairs; 5) hopeful handymen of all ages; 6) many a buddin g 'do-it-yourselfer'; 7) to learn a skilled craftsman's job overnight; 8) the amateur handyman; 9) the right tools for the job; 10) the wea r and tear on the nerves; 11) iu the longjun.

D Give the English for:

1) частично, отчасти; 2) мастерская; 3) по той или иной

причине; 4) ремонтные работы по дому; 5) постепенно; 6) на

свою голову; 7) экономный, бережливый; 8) непрофессионал,

любитель.

Е Discuss the following questions.

1. What circumstances encouraged the 'Do-it-Yourself movement in postwar Britain? 2. What feeds the popular illusion that "very few things cannot be made by the 'do-it-yourself method¹'? 3. What obstacles will anyone face when entering a tricky path of a "do-it-yourselfer"?

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